Grain separator



ocx. 3o, 192s. 1,689,972

A. E. ROTHGARN GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed April l2, 1926 I5 Sheets-Sheet l In Venier 761V fifa ybis A 5 N P/lIJ A. E. ROTHGARN GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Apr 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll Oct. 30, 1928.

yb W orney ZM W /bv/d` oet 3o, 192e. 1,689,972

A. E. ROTHGARN GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed April 12, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .f 61's Ally-p eff Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

ANDREW E. ROTHGARN, F

rivrmsora, AssrGNoa 'ro SAMUEL o. GLOW,

GRAIN snraaa'ron..`

Application ala aprirla, 1926. `serial No.v lela My inventionrelates to separators intended for general use butespecially adapted for separating seed from different kinds of grain...

To the above end generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and coinbinations of devices hereinafter' described and defined in the claims.

In theiaccompanying drawings, whichillustrate the 'invention,. like characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews. K

IReferring to the .drawings l y Fig. 1 is a vien7 partly in sideeleva-tion and partly in central vertical section showing one form of* the invention;

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in centralvertical section showing the front end of the machine, on an enlarged scale; p

Fig; 3 is a view in diagram with some parts sectioned on the line 3 3 oFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is aiview corresponding to F ig..3 but showing a slight modification ofthe mounting of the grate bars;

Fig. 5 isa View principally in side elevation of the parts shown inFig. 4 v

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing another form ot' the invention; t

Fig. 7 is afront elevation of asshown in Fig. 6.;` .y i f Y Fig. 8 is aview partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical; section show ing vstill another form of the invention 5 and Y 1 Fig. 9 is a front end elevation of the'parts shown in Fig. 8, with some parts sectioned substantially on ,theline 9 9 ofF ig. 8.

the invention Referring rst to the invention as illus-v tratedin Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numerals 10 and 11 indicate', respectively, a primary separator and a secondary separator, both of which are of cylindrical form with open ends and in axial alignment, the former axially spaced in front of the latter; A driven shaft 12 is eX- tended axially through thefseparators, 10and 11 and is inclined 'from the rear to the front of the machine so that the front or receiving ends of said separators are higher than their rear or delivery ends. The frontend portion of the shaft 12` is mounted in bushing 13 journaled in a bearing ltxon a front'Y end frame 15, andthe rear end portion of .said shaftismounted in a bushing .16 journaled in a bearing 17 on arear endframe 18. Nuts 19 Y are applied to the projecting ends of the shaft v 12 and washers 20 are applied to said shaft' andinterposed between said nuts, and the outer ends of the bearings 14 and 17 and liold said shaft against endwise movement. y Telescoped onto the shaft 12 is, a long sleeve 21 that extends from the rear end` of the primary separator 10 to ther-ear end of the bushing 16.

A Awasher 22 on the shaft 12 is interposed between the bushing 16 and sleeve 21. Ap plied to the rear .projecting end of the shaft p 12 is a hand crank 23 by which said shaft may be turned for operating thesepara-tors.

The 'primary separator l() comprises a. plurality of annular 'grateibars 24 eachof which is secured by radial spokes 25 .to ahub 267011 the shaft 12. These grate bars 24 are held axiallyspaeed by washers 27'oii the shaft 12 and interpose between the hubs 26. The

space between the grate bars 211 affords annu# lar grain passageways 28, the transverse width of which may be variedat will forseparating or grading different kindsof grain by providing the washers 27 in different thicknesses. l l Theinner or grain-supporting surfaces. of the grate bars 24eme V -shaped in cross section, as indicated `at 241 and hence said surfaces converge toward the feed passageways 28 and direct the grain in the primary separator `10 into said passageways. It will be noted that the sides of saidpassageways 28 are parallel and relatively deep. Y i i The primary separator 10 is provided with a head member 29 in the formQof a hopper flange, the inner faceof which bears against the adjacent grate bar21. Thishead member 29 is secured by radial spokes 30 to a hub 31 ony the shaft 12. The grate bars 24, spacing washers 27, head member 29,`bushings 13 and 16, sleeve'21,and washer 22 are all frictionally clamped` together between the lwashers 2O by the nuts 19 for rotation with the shaft 12. The bushings 13 and `16 are of suchlcngt-h as to freely rotate lin respective,V bearings 14 A hopper 32 for holdingmaterials to be separated or gradedl .1s mountedon the front end frame 15 and provided with a; discharge throat 33. arranged' to ldeliver materialsfrom the hopper 32 through the head member 29 and onto the bottom of the primary. separator 10. Said hopper 32 is provided with' an ad-k justable gate 34 held in ditierentadjustments by a crank ar'm35 and cooperating notch segment 3G tor regulating the. Aflow ol materials from said hopper to its discharge throat 33.

The primary separator 1() is provided at its rear end with an inilriert'orate cylindrical extension comprising;r a fixed section 3T and a movable section 3S telescopically mounted thereon. The fixed section 37 is secured for rotation with the prilnary separator 10 hy having its t'ront end telescoped onto the rearmost grate har Q4 and provided withan inturned flange 39 clamped het-Ween said har and the next. The rear end portion ofi' the separator extension 3T-3S is supported from the shaft 12 hy a spider 40.

On top ot the primary separator 1() is a cleaner comprising,T a plurality of disks 4l that extend into the grain passageways 2S. These disks 41 are loosely mounted on a shaft 42 and held axially spaced by sleeves 43 on said shaft, and the outermost ot said sleeves are held on said shaft hy heading the ends thereof. T he front sleeve 43 is mounted in a bracket 44 on the front end of the :trame 15 and rigidly secured thereto by a set screw 45 for holding the shaft 42 in posit-ion over the primary separator 10.

Concentrieally surrounding the primary separator 10 is an imperforat-e drum 46 having a head 47 that is provided at its front end with an axial opening into which projects a large annular fiange 48 on the front. end frame 15. This head 4T, hy its engagement with the flange 4S, support-s the front end of the drum 4G with freedom tor rotation. A cylindrical screen 49, within the drum 4G, is radially spaced from said drum and the primary separator 10, and has its front end secured to the drum head 4T for rotation therewith. Radial arms 50 connect the drinn 4G to the screen 49, and said screen to the fixed section 3T of the separator extension tor common rotation with the separator l() and shaft 12.

For retarding,T the movement of materials travelling longitudinallyv through the screen 49 there is secured to the inside of said screen a multiplicity of annular haflle plates 5l. These. hale plates 51 are axially spaced throughout the length of thev screen and each thereof comprises circumterentially spaced sections, and it is important to note that the sections ot one baffle plate overlap the spaces hetwecn the sections ot adjacent hatfle plates.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will he. noted that the primary separator 1() includingT its extension 3T-38 and the screen 49 and drum 4Q, respectively, progressively are made shorter. Materials in the primary separator 10 that will not pass between the grate hars Q4 are precipitated from the open rear end of said separator. when the section 38 ot the extension is telescoped onto the section 3T a. shown in Fig. 1. into the receptacle Materials in the screen 49 that will not pass therethrough will be precipitated from the open rear end of said screen into a receptacle and the seeds collected in the drum 42 from the screen 49 are precipitated from the rear open end thereof into a` receptacle :34.

The secondary separator 11 has at its rear end a spider 55 journaled on the inner projecting end of the hearing 17 and rotatably supports the respective end ot said separator. The front end ot the separator ll is supported from the shaft l2 hy a spider 56. 'lhe sleeve Q1 is made in sections and the. spiders 40 and 5G are clamped between the said sections Vt'or rotation therewith.

lVithin the secondary separator l1 is a division har 57 in the torni ot an annular har that is V-shaped in cross section and divides said separator into front and rear sections. the former of which has in its shell relatively small pockets 5S and the latter of' which has in its shell relatively large pockets 5S). Seeds in the pockets 5S and 59 are carried upward hy the separator l1 and then precipitated into receptacles GO and (31, respectively. These receptacles GO and (il are reniovahly supported on rails (52 that extend parallel over the shalt 1Q and have their rear ends rigidly secured to the hearing 17. By moving the spide so that its arms are out ot the path of movement ot the receptacles G0 and 6l, said receptacles may he removed from the rails GQ.

lVhen materials reniainingr in the primary separator 10 are to he delivered into the secondary separator 11 the movahle sia-tion 38 ot said primary separator is drawn outward, as indiated hy dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that its rear open end extends into the front open end of said secondary stq'iarator.

Materials not picked u i hy the pockets :i8 and 59 are precipitated trom the rear open end of.l the secondary separator 1l into a receptacle (S3.

The operation ot the ahove deserihed machine may he briefly described as follows. and it may he assumed that the hopper il?. contains fiax seed to he separated trom foreign seeds mixed therewith. .such as wheat. oats, mustard, water grass. corkle etc.. and that the grate hars Q4 are spaced for this operation and that the mr 'alile section 15H of the primary separator l0 is teleseoped onto the fixed section 3T thereof` as illustrated hy :full lines in Fig. l. to cut the secondary separator 11 out ot action and deliver materials that have passed longitudinally through said primary separator l0 into the receptacle lllaterials in the hopper 32 are fed into the primary separator l0 in the desired quantities to secure the most efficient, separation hv operatingr the gate 5l and during this flow ot material into the prin'iary separator l() the machine is operated hy the crank Q3. lVhen the machine is to he power-driven. a pulley or wheel will he sulistituted `for the crank 13.

Materials trom the hopper 2Q discharged lisA lli

inclination thereof.

i, eee, 97a

Flax seed in the mix-tur@ due to the oily exteriorthereof,y will' easily and fieelyjpass throughthe-passageways 2S between the grate bars=24 andbe precipitated onto the bottoni of therot'at-ing screenidQ/together with very fine seed mixture. Large foul seed andother i relativelycoarseforeignmatter will be carrie'dithrough the primaryseparator l0 and be discharged into the receptacle 52; Foreign seed of about the same size :is-dax seed; due to their rough and dry exterior,` will be caught between the'grate bars 24 and carried up- Waidtthereby to the top of the primary sepa-ratoi* V10 where they Willbereinoved byl the cletncvsfll and again precipitatedy onto thc bottbin of the primary separat'orld This i action is repeated` until said foreign seeds have finally passed longitudinally through said separator'and into thei'eceptacle 52.'

The 4mesh'of the screen 49 Yis `such as to prevent flair seed from passing therethrough and this seed is: repeatedlycarried onl the ,up-a

'wardly"movingsurface of the screen'ilt) and then precipitatedonto 4the bottom i thereof to Separate thesamefroin thesmallseed therein which will l be discharged v thro ugh said screen and intothedrum 42 where 'it will be conveyed intov 'thev receptacle 54. The'l baille plates 5T will ret-ard* the movement'of the filx seed" longitudinally through the screen 49so 'that'by the' time the same' isdischarged into the receptacle 53 all small seedsi dust 'a-ndthe. like; will Ahave beenA removed therefrom. r '1 i In case 'there isfsixiiicient Wheat inthe hopper 32 'to warra-ntlscparation thereof the movable' Section BScithei-primary separator 10 is adjusted, ats-shown hy dotted linesin Fig: l, to discharge all materials passing longitudinally through said separator into the secondary separator 1l.' The pocketed fronti` section Y 'thereof will tahesmall` peal, cockleetc. and precipitate the same intothereceptacle G0. Materials that will Vnot enter the pockets 5S are-"repeatedly carried 'upward on theupwardly movingV side ofi thesecondaryseparator 151 and then precipitatedonto the bott'oin thei'eofg and f upon 1 reaching the division member 57 will be precipitatedintothe-section of said) -se aratorcontaining the large pockets 59. T ese pockets-are oit' suchsize as to receive wheat and precipitate the same into the receptacle 61. All foreign 'matter in the wheat, such as oats, will be inally precipitated into the receptacle 63.

The primary separator shown in Figs. 4

and 5 p in Figs.- l`, 2 and 3 with theexce'ptioii that the grate bars 64 are carried by three tie rods 65 that extend through inwardly projecting ra'- dial lugs' 6601i the inner'fa'ceso'i? saidvbars,

and which bars' are held laterally spaced by washers 67 on the rods 65. In this forni `oit primary separator thesame will/be mounted on rollers that engage theperiphery'thereof and rotated in any suitablemarinera` Referring now to tlie'machine illtistrated in Figs. 6 andi' the numeral 68 `indic separator comprising a plurality of' n l a n C longitudinally inclined grate bars (it) the iip- Y )er or 0rain-sii' )ortingV surfaces thereoil be- D nl issubstantially the sanieas that'sliown ing V-shape'd in cross section as indicated at 7 0. l This separator 68 has securedto the inter- Inediatelportions of its side members' apaii" oi' bearings 7lI having' stiids 72niou'ntt-idfy in bearings 7 3 on aframe 74. The grate' bars 69, at their ends, are rigidly connected hy nutequipped t-ie rods 75 on' whichare washers 76 that hold said' bars laterally spaced to atlord grain passageways 77 therebetween. Brace rods 78A connect the rear'c'ndl of the separator 68 to thei'iame 74'and rigidly hold said separator atl the desired inclination and against pivotal movement on the studs 72'.-

Mounted'on the grate bars-(Misa container 79 comprising back and side membeisfor holding'materials tobe separatedfonithe rear or lower halt of Ythe separator GS;

A cleaner' for the grate baie '69 comprisesa plurality cig-flat blades 8O set vertically edgewise and intcrmediately secured toa shaft 81 journaled in bearings 71 andextendbetween said: grate bars with freedom for rotation therebetween. Gn-zone end of the'shaft 81 is a handl crank 82; by whichV the cleaner bars i may be `rotated in'ithe/direction of the arrow indicated on Fig.' 6. Mounted on the frame 74 under the Separator 68`is-a screen frame '-83 inv tliebottom of which" is ay segmental- Screeni 81h -This screen frame 8'3""is pivotallysuspended'from the studs- 65 on the frame' 74 whereby the screen `S-t may be swung'under the grate bars 69 longitudinally thereof; Af large pan'iSGis placed under the screen-84. A l

Materials to be separatedl are' placed in the container 79 and thecleaning baisSOh'o- SIC tated bythe crank' 82 in the direction of'the arrow onFigG: The rear endportions of these cleaner bars 80, inpassingupwardbetween the grate barsGSL; willlclean the respective portions of the passageways- 77 andreturn to the container 79'all1seeds andiother l matter lodgedftherein. At the vsaine time these portions of` thel `vcleaner bars 80 iwilla-ct as agitators for the material'inth'e container 79 while passing therethrough. The forward end portions of the cleaner bars 80 in passing downward between the grate bars 69 will clear the same oi all seeds and other matter lodged therein and cause the same to be preeipitated onto `the screen S-t. All material in the container 79 that can pass between the grate bars (59 will be precipitated onto the screen 84.

The. materials on the screen Si are agitated and moved thereon by swinging the frame 3 by hand. All materials that can pass through the screen S4 will be precipitated into the pan 8G. Foreign material remaining in the container 79 that is too large to pass between the grate bars (i9 will have to be emptied therefrom. Likewise, such material that cannot pass through the screen 8lwill have to be emptied therefrom. rlhe good seed on the screen S4 will he held thereon and all small seeds will pass through the screen St and be precipitated into the pan SG. Aty the con'ipletion ot the separation the good seed may be emptied trom the screen SLL.

The invention illustrated in Figs. S and 9 comprises a separator in the form ot' an open container 87 haviiigl a bottom made up ot' grate bars 8S like the grate bars Q4. This separator is mounted tor reciprocating movement in a horizontal plane and is provided with rollers 89 journaled on the container 8T and arranged to run on track rails 90 on a frame 91.

Extending into the grain passageways between the grate bars S8 are tixcd cleaners 92 in the form of V-shaped plates rigidly sceured to the frame 91 by a pair of nutequipped rods 93 that extend through bores in said cleaners, tracks 90 and frame 91. lVashers 9st on the rods 93 hold the cleaners 92 properly spaced. A removable pan 95 is mounted on the bottom 9G ot' the 'frame 91.

Materials to be separated are placed in the container 87 and said separator reciprocated by hand. Materials that can pass through the grate bars 8S are precipitated into the pan 95. All materials that lodge between said grate bars are removed by the cleaners 92, and which cleaners also agitate the materials in the container S7.

The above described separators may be used for the separation of various ditiierent kinds of grain, and also used as doekage cleaners and grain sizers.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with an axially inclined cylindrical separator for holding materials to be separated comprising annular grate bars, ot cleaners between the grate bars, a cylindrical screen surrounding said separator, a cylindrical collecting drum snrrounding the screen, and means for rotating the separator, screen and drum.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said separator has an imperforate lower end extension, the separator, screen and drum being progressively longer at their lower end portions.

3. The combination with au axially ininclined cylindrical primary separator for holding materials to be separated comprising annular grate bars, oit cleaners between the grate bars, a cylindrical screen surrouiuling said separator, a cylindrical collecting drinn surrounding the screen, means tor rotating the separator, screen and drum, an axially inclined poeketed cylindrical secondary separator axially spaced 'l'rom the lower end ot' said primary separator, and means operative at. will to cause the primary separator to discharge into the secondary separator.

't. The structure dclined in claim in which said secondary lseparator has an intermediate annular division member dividing said separator into t'ront and rear sections, the pockets in the i'ront section being smaller than the pocketsl in the rear sectioni 5. rl`he structure defined in claim il in which said secondary .separator has an intermediate annular division member dividing said separator into front and rear sections, the pockets in the front section being smaller than the pockets in the rear section, in i'urther combination with receptacles in the sec omlary separator arranged to receive materials carried uliward in said pockets.

G. The combination with an inclined shalt'. and means tor driving the same, ot a cylindrical primary separator for holding materials to be separated, said separator being secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and through which the upper end portion of said shaft extends, a drinn surrouruling said separator, a. cylindrical screen interposed between said separator and drinn, said screen and drum being secured tor rotation with said separator, said separator havingl an imperiorate lower end extension, said separator, screen and drum being progressively longer at their lower ends, a cylindrical pocketed secondary separator axially aligned with the primary separator and secured to the lower end portion ol the shaft for rotation therewith, means operative at will t'or causing the primary separator to discharge into the scparating drum, said separating drum having an intermediate annular division member dividing the same into upper and lower sections, the pockets in the upper section being smaller than the pockets in the lower section, and receptacles in the separating drum arranged to receive materials carried upward in said pockets.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ANDREW E. RGTHGRN. 

